Clamp.



w.A. .mcHARnson CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. 1916.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

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WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, OF EDVTARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RICI-IWIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.,

Application :filed December 2, 1916. Serial No. 134,670.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. R101-1annsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edwardsville, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My -invention consists of an improvement in clamps for tightly holding a iexible tying device, as a strap, rope or cord, and is designed to provide a double clamping or locking construction, automatically operative, and having means for easy and quick release. Preferred constructions are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view of the device l in operative position, with the tying cord in place.

Fig. 2 is a face view in elevation, showing the unlocking keyhole.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on its line III, III, of Fig. 2, with the unlocking key.

Fig. 4: is a partial similar view showing a modification. v 1 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a further modification.

Fig.'6 is a view of the interior construction of Fig. 5, with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view indicated by the line VII, VII, of Fig. 5.

The casing 2 which may be circular or of other preferred form, is provided with a closed bottom 3 and a removable top Ll. The top is secured in position by rivets 5 which constitute pivotal pins for the mounting of the two oppositely located and acting dogs 6, each of cam-like construction and having gripping edges which are of constantly increasing radius from the pivotal center 5. Their edges are preferably recessed in the form of a V as shown in Fig. 3,- providing a gripping groove having at each inner side corrugations or ridges 7 for tight engagement with the cord or rope 8.

A central rib or bearing abutment 9 eX- tends inwardly from back 3 midway of the casing for suflicient length to form a bearing at each side for the cord and openings 10 are provided at opposite sides of the casing for its passage therethrough. Each dog 6 is preferably provided with a spring 11 bearing by one end against the casing and by the other against the dog to insure its initial gripping action against the cord. A n

unlocking disk or lever 12 is rotatably mounted on a stud 13 of the central rib 9 and has link connections 14k with each dog Y whereby when the disk is rotated, the clamping dogs may be positively liftedaway froml engagement4 and against the action of springs 11.

Cover-t is provided with a key hole l5 and a key. 16 having wings 17, is adapted to be inserted through the key hole and to engage lugs 18 of disk l2 for unlocking, as will be readily understood.

IVhen the cord 8 is passed through the casing openings l0 and looped as shown, around a mail bag, package, bundle, or any other article to be tightly fastened, casing 2 is forced toward the article, orthefree ends of the cord are tightly drawn, the dogs being pressed against the cord by their springs. Then the tension of the loop will exert a reverse strain, and the eccentric faces of the dogs will cause themto bite inwardly` toward the cords, tightlyy pressing them against the central ridge. The gripping effect will .increase in proportion to the strain and the cord will thus be positively held until released.

-If desired, the gripping dogs 6a may have straight transverse faces and the central ridge 9@L may be grooved to receive the cords, as in Fig. 4, thus insuring good surface engagement.

Instead of the lock and key construction above described, I may use a sliding block 12b having a stem extending out through a slot l5b and provided with a terminal button 1Gb for operation by the finger or thumb, as in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Block l2b is connected with dogs 6b by links 143 and the construction and operation is the same otherwise as above described, the parts being the same and identified by similar numerals having the exponent b.

With either of the above described constructions, the cord, after having been loosely located in position through the openings 10 of the casing and between the oppositely acting dogs 6 and the intervening bearing ridge, with the tendency of the dogs to normally bind inwardly against the cord, upon tightening the loop as described, the dogs will thereupon grip and hold it until released.

The device provides a very convenient, simple and economical means for effecting a wardly toward said abutment, and manually operated means for simultaneously retracting said dogs, said means being mounted within the casing, and adapted to be operated from Without. v

2. I n a holding device of the class described, a casing provided with clearance openings through its edges, a middle bearing abutment, a pivotally mounted locking dog at each side oi' and adapted to bind inwardly toward said abutment, and manually operated means positively connected to each of said dogs for retracting them.

In a device of the Class described, a base, a centrally spaced bearing abutment thereon, a pivotally mounted spring pressed locking dog at each'side of and adapted to bind inwardly toward said abutment, and manually operated meansl adapted to simultaneously retract said dogs.

a. In a device of the class described, a base, la centrally spaced bearing abutment thereon, pivotally mounted locking dogs adjacentto and adapted to bind inwardly to- Copies ofv this patent may be obtained for ward said abutment, and manually operated means adapted to simultaneously retract said dogs. f

5. In a holding device ofthe class described, a casing provided with clearance openings through its edges, a middle bearing abutment, a pivotally mounted locking dog at each side of and adapted to bind inwardly toward said abutment, and a manually shifted member, having link connections with each of said dogs` for simultaneously retracting `the same.

6. Inl a holding device of the class described, a casing, a middle-bearing abutment, a pivotally mounted looking dog at each side of andadapted to bindf'inwardly toward said abutment, a disk rotatably mounted on astud on said abutment and links pivotally connected to said disk in said dogs, said disk and said'links cooperating to retract said dogs.

7. A; holding device comprising a casing provided with clearance openings through its edges, a centrally spaced abutment, a stud on said abutment, a pivotally mounted springpressed locking dog ateaoh side of and adapted to bind inwardly toward said abutment, a disk having spaced abutments thereon, rotatably mounted on s aid stud, and links pivotally connected with said disk and said dogs, said abutments-on 'said disk being adapted to be engaged vby a key to rotate said disk and simultaneously retract said dogs.

In testimony whereoI1 I hereunto affix my signature. f f

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of `Patents, Washington, D. V(2. 

